Michael Jordan and Mark Cuban are no strangers in either the business world or the basketball world. Jordan has ownership stakes in the Charlotte Hornets and Cuban in the Mavericks. Both of them have also invested together in a sports startup called Sportradar. Both of them have been credited with great business intellect and the ability to know opportunities from liabilities.
Jordan has been part of several investments and Cuban continues to be a billionaire entrepreneur. His reality show, Shark Tank, puts budding businessmen to pitch their ideas in the hopes that the panel of investors choose to invest their money.
In a recent interview with Complex, Mark Cuban said he was playing Shark Tank before the inception of the show. He made this statement, following an anecdote about a potential business deal between him and Michael Jordan.
Prior to Jordan being locked on to the Washington Wizards, Mark Cuban had the opportunity to meet with him. Cuban and Jordan’s agent, David Falks were good friends. When Cuban got wind from his friend that there could be a potential MJ comeback, he put his deal on the table as well.
Mark Cuban’s meeting with Michael Jordan
The businessman went on to meet the 6x NBA Champion in 2001. He saw Jordan had laid down all the paperwork to sign on to the Wizards. He told Jordan that this was his last chance to get it right. This persuasive angle signified that he was pitching and trying to make deals even before his hit series’ concept. “I was playing Shark Tank before Shark Tank was born”, said a smiling Cuban.
His pitch, though wasn’t successful as Jordan was committed to signing with the Wizards. Michael Jordan had been part of the team’s management during his retirement phase and looked to contribute in more active ways.
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On the other hand, Cuban’s Mavericks had some really great talent with players like Steve Nash, Michael Finley, and Dirk Nowitzki. That would have made for an interesting combination if Jordan also joined the team. The lethal sum of experience, know-how, and a young, ferocious team could have catapulted the team.
Nowitzki has always considered Jordan to be his biggest influence and hero. It would have been great for the fans to see the duo play on the same team.
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